Ivan Contreras
Encyclopedia
Gerardo Iván Contreras Gámez (born January 29, 1974 in Tampico
) is a Mexican
professional volleyball
player. He currently plays for Knack Roeselare in Belgium
. His position on the field is outside hitter. Contreras has been voted player of the year in 2005 and 2007 in Belgium. Contreras is also captain of Knack Roeselare.
Contreras attended Penn State University where he won an NCAA National Championship
as a freshman and was named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 1997.
Among Contreras' former teams are Osnabrück in Germany
, MTV Näfels in Switzerland
, Knack Roeselare in Belgium
and Ziraat Bankası Ankara
in Turkey
.
In 2004, he won the MVP award from the Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino
, playing with Gigantes de Adjuntas. He played for this team from 2002 to 2006.
Before playing volleyball, Contreras was practicing athletics, especially hurdling
, high jump
and long jump
. Contreras had also tried karate
and tennis
, but he was tired of individual sports and started to play volleyball, which he preferred over basketball
.
On May 27, 2008, Contreras revealed that he will sign a lucrative one-year deal with Ziraat Bankası Ankara
. He returned to Roeselare after one season.
In recognition of his performance during the 2009, he won the "Luchador Olmeca" award in January, 2010.
MTV Näfels (1997–2000) Gigantes de Adjuntas (2000) Knack Roeselare
(2000–2008) Gigantes de Adjuntas (2002–2006) Ziraat Bankası Ankara (2008–2009) Knack Roeselare
(2009–2011) Leones de Ponce
(2011)
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
) is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
professional volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player. He currently plays for Knack Roeselare in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. His position on the field is outside hitter. Contreras has been voted player of the year in 2005 and 2007 in Belgium. Contreras is also captain of Knack Roeselare.
Contreras attended Penn State University where he won an NCAA National Championship
NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship
The NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship is the tournament that determines the national championship of American college volleyball.The "Final Four" is a term used exclusively by NCAA Basketball but is commonly used to describe the Men's Volleyball Championship...
as a freshman and was named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 1997.
Among Contreras' former teams are Osnabrück in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, MTV Näfels in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Knack Roeselare in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Ziraat Bankası Ankara
Ziraat Bankası Ankara
Ziraat Bankası Ankara is an Turkish volleyball club based in Ankara. The club plays in the Turkish Men's Volleyball League, the top league in Turkey....
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
In 2004, he won the MVP award from the Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino
Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino
The Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino is a men's professional volleyball league in Puerto Rico. The competitions are organized by the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation .-League Champions:-External links:...
, playing with Gigantes de Adjuntas. He played for this team from 2002 to 2006.
Before playing volleyball, Contreras was practicing athletics, especially hurdling
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
, high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. Contreras had also tried karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, but he was tired of individual sports and started to play volleyball, which he preferred over basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
On May 27, 2008, Contreras revealed that he will sign a lucrative one-year deal with Ziraat Bankası Ankara
Ziraat Bankası Ankara
Ziraat Bankası Ankara is an Turkish volleyball club based in Ankara. The club plays in the Turkish Men's Volleyball League, the top league in Turkey....
. He returned to Roeselare after one season.
In recognition of his performance during the 2009, he won the "Luchador Olmeca" award in January, 2010.
Clubs
Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyballPenn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball
Penn State has had a long tradition with their men's volleyball program. Founded in 1976 by Tom Tait, Tait coached the team from 1976–1989, and was named a USA Volleyball All-Time great coach in 2007....
MTV Näfels (1997–2000) Gigantes de Adjuntas (2000) Knack Roeselare
Knack Randstad Roeselare
Knack Randstad Roeselare is a professional Volleyball team based in Roeselare, Belgium. It plays in Belgian Volleyball League and in the CEV Champions League-Palmarès:*National**Belgian volley league : 1989, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010...
(2000–2008) Gigantes de Adjuntas (2002–2006) Ziraat Bankası Ankara (2008–2009) Knack Roeselare
Knack Randstad Roeselare
Knack Randstad Roeselare is a professional Volleyball team based in Roeselare, Belgium. It plays in Belgian Volleyball League and in the CEV Champions League-Palmarès:*National**Belgian volley league : 1989, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010...
(2009–2011) Leones de Ponce
Leones de Ponce
Leones de Ponce refers to several related club sports teams in Ponce, Puerto Rico, including:*Leones de Ponce , a baseball team in the LBPPR*Ponce Lions , a basketball team in the BSN...
(2011)
Individual awards
- 1994 "NCAA AVCA Second Team All American"
- 1995 "NCAA AVCA First Team All American"
- 1996 "NCAA AVCA First Team All American"
- 1997 "NCAA AVCA First Team All American and Player of the Year"
- 1998 "Voted Runner up Player of the Year in Switzerland"
- 1999 "Player of the Year in Switzerland"
- 2000 "Player of the Year in Switzerland"
- 2001 "Top Teams Cup Champion"
- 2004 Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino "MVP"
- 2004-2005 "European Champions League Best Scorer"
- 2004-2005 "Player of the Year in Belgium"
- 2006-2007 "Player of the Year in Belgium"
- 2007-2008 "European Champions League Best Scorer and Best Attacker"
- 2007-2008 "Player of the Year in Belgium"
- 2008 "Best Scorer Olimpic Qualifier, Caguas P.R."
- 2009 "MVP in World Championships Qualifier, Guadalajara Mexico"
- 2010 Luchador Olmeca
- 2011 "Best Scorer Panamerican Games, Guadalajara, Mexico"